Hot pink wallpaper, glitzy light fixtures, and mod furniture give Philadelphia-based Lacquer Lounge an atmosphere that can only be described as fun. Likening the space to Barbie’s Dreamhouse, salon owner Lisa McElhone has a very specific vision: “I don’t want my spa to be quiet and nature-like; I want it to be a place where customers come to pamper themselves and chat over a drink.”

And indeed they can — at Lacquer Lounge, cocktails are complimentary. Whether it’s a seasonal hot chocolate with marshmallow vodka or sparkling white wine, clients can order whatever they’d like along with their nail services.

“I took everything I thought was missing from my experience in other salons and put it in my own,” says McElhone. “Sometimes if you offer things that are above and beyond, it’s a nice touch to make clients feel like they’re taken care of and getting the most for their money.”

McElhone leveraged her perspective as someone who went behind the scenes of the beauty world later in life. Toward the end of her long career building wireless cell phone towers, she went to school to become a nail tech and soon after sold her other business to open Lacquer Lounge.

Offering something for everyone, services are priced between $10 and $60 and include everything from basic gels to caviar nails.

KEEPING A FINGER ON THE PULSE

Lacquer Lounge makes it a point to stay current with the latest trends in nail fashion, color, and even social media. Knowing exactly what type of service customers want comes from hours of research and listening to feedback, says McElhone.

“I would say our clients are pretty aware of the trends,” says McElhone. “Because of social media, everything’s so viral. Clients see photos online and request these original designs.”

Keeping it simple, the salon carries OPI, Essie, and Hand & Nail Harmony. When a new collection or line comes out, McElhone makes sure it’s in her salon the day it launches. “The first thing clients do when they come in is notice that we have new colors,” says McElhone. “It’s refreshing, especially for our once-a-week visitors.”

Although gel-polish manis and pedis are Lacquer Lounge’s most popular offerings, the salon also specializes in “trendy manicures,” which includes caviar, velvet, and texturized manicures in addition to nail art. Last year, the local ABC news channel aired a beauty trend special on Lacquer Lounge’s services.

The salon’s nail techs are constantly experimenting in their downtime. “Whenever I see something trending in the nail word, I make it happen in my salon,” says McElhone. “We practice on each other and on ourselves. We read magazines, go to tradeshows, follow vendors, and have a lot of websites bookmarked.”

Lacquer Lounge recently launched its new website equipped with a complete list of services, online booking for the first time, and a photo gallery to click through.

It’s also in the process of being adapted into a mobile site, which, according to McElhone, is a necessity in today’s digital world. “More and more customers are turning to review sites like Yelp, especially on their smartphones, and those sites link directly to a business’s website,” she says.

“Everyone uses smartphones these days so I realized there was a lot of work that needed to be done to make things easier on our clients,” says McElhone. “We always have our finger on the pulse.”

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MAKING A BAD ECONOMY WORK

What makes Lacquer Lounge unique is its broad pricing spectrum. Clients can receive manicures anywhere from $10 to $45 under the same roof. “No one feels funny coming in here — there’s literally something for everyone,” says McElhone.

The Lacquer Express is a manicure for women on the go. It includes nail shaping, cuticle pushing, moisturizing, buffing, and polish for $10. There are also Lacquer Signature manicures for $15, Lacquer Luxe manicures for $20, gel-polish manicures for $35, and “Glamicures” (featuring Dashing Diva Design FX) for $45. Pedicures start at $20and go as high as $50. A full set of gels is $60.

“I don’t know what my business would be like if the recession wasn’t occurring,” says McElhone, who luckily has been making a profit since her doors opened in June 2012. “But one thing I know is that women can afford a $10 manicure no matter what, and regardless of the economy, we’re always going to take care of ourselves.”

Lacquer Lounge offers a “Recessionista Package,” where clients can buy six services in advance and save 20%.

“I’ve seen our business expand as I get to know the salon’s clientele better,” says McElhone. “I know what they’re looking for and the amount they’re trying to spend and that’s what’s helping increase revenue.”

Although nails make up 85% of the salon’s business, additional revenue is generated from waxing, hair, makeup, and airbrush tanning services, which were integrated in November 2012 as a result of client requests. “Our focus is definitely on nails, but customers would come in and say that the last thing they’d want to do is get in the car and drive somewhere else to get a blowout,” says McElhone.  “We owned the downstairs area under the salon, so we made it functional and hired an esthetician, makeup artist, and hairstylist.”

The salon also has a “Beau-tique,” where different pedicure products used in the salon, in addition to gift items, accessories, and candles, are sold. “This grew with time but is now doing very well,” says McElhone.

CLEANLINESS IS KEY

One of the driving forces behind Lacquer Lounge is McElhone’s commitment to cleanliness. Everything is disposable, such as Footsie Bath pedicure bowls with disposable liners. All non-recyclable implements are autoclaved.

“Disposable liners are a dream come true,” says McElhone. “It’s affordable and clean and you can turn clients over faster and not lose business.”

McElhone wanted to create the same atmosphere she had experienced in upscale spas primarily in Florida. Therefore, Lacquer Lounge’s decor is white and pink with sleek, feminine, and trendy furniture.

“We tried to focus on white furniture for the cleanliness aspect — I thought it was fun and cheerful,” says McElhone. “I’m super passionate about hygiene.”  

Quick Look

Salon name: Lacquer Lounge

Location: Philadelphia

Owner: Lisa McElhone

Square footage: 1,000

Opened: June 2012

Number of Nail Techs/Total Staff: 5/9

Compensation: Commission (50%)

Website: www.lacquerlounge.com